all roads lead to china, page-5

Jocam, do you have any view as to why the Chinese are so publicity-shy about Beibu? I've searched all over for clues but only come up with the following hypotheses: (1) simple habitual Chinese tendency to secrecy in everything, (2) murky internal Chines political power games, (3) negotiations with a major oil source country to the west (Iran?, one of the '-stans'?) who might be opposed to deals w allies of perceived anti-Muslim USA. So far, I favour the first option on the basis of simplicity. Any other's thoughts welcome also.